ISB Graduates 25th PGP Cohort in Its Silver Jubilee Year

As the Indian School of Business (ISB) marks 25 years since its founding, the institution today celebrated the graduation of the 25th cohort of its flagship Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), with 417 students from the PGP Class of 2026 graduating at the School’s Hyderabad campus. The graduation ceremony commenced with a ceremonial procession led by Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, along with Chief Guest - Erika James, Dean, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Harish Manwani, Chairperson of the ISB Executive Board and senior faculty members.

Launched in 2001, ISB’s PGP was India’s first one-year, full-time residential management programme for experienced professionals. Built to develop leaders for India and the global economy, the programme continues to evolve with changing business needs through flexible, action-based learning. Across its 25 PGP cohorts, the School has graduated more than 14,000 professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries.

Erika James, Dean of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, addressed the 25th graduating class of ISB by reflecting on the deep kinship and shared commitment to academic rigour between Wharton and the Indian School of Business. She advised the graduates that navigating today's intensely volatile global business landscape requires far more than foundational cognitive skills. She outlined a comprehensive framework for modern leadership, urging the new alumni to develop relational, intellectual, physical, and emotional strength. She emphasised the importance of proactively building stamina to withstand sustained pressures, rather than merely reacting to setbacks. Furthermore, she highlighted patience as an essential, often overlooked emotional capability, describing it as a vital long-term investment in their professional vision. She also assured the Class of 2026 that by taking the time to cultivate these well-rounded capabilities, they would be thoroughly prepared to seize any leadership opportunity that the future might present.

Mr. Harish Manwani, Chairperson of the ISB Executive Board, in his address, described the Silver Jubilee graduation as both a milestone of pride and an invitation for introspection. He observed that ISB’s distinguishing strength lies in its ability to shape leaders who remain grounded in integrity, while navigating a volatile world with insight and compassion. Encouraging the Class of 2026 to wear their achievement with humility and purpose, he reminded them that their legacy will be defined not by the roles they occupy, but by the values they uphold and the difference they create in the world around them.

Addressing the graduating class, Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, congratulated the 25th batch of PGP graduates and reflected on ISB’s 25-year journey. He urged the cohort to confront convenient narratives by consistently speaking truth to power and to rely on their rigorous analytical education to tackle complex problems systematically. Looking towards the demands of the next 25 years, he assured the graduates that ISB would not rest on its past successes and committed the institution to a period of renewal and scaled impact. Prof. Pillutla also promised the cohort that the school will work towards advancing bold research and shaping leaders who actively influence the future.

The ceremony also recognised 1 scholar from the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) and 21 scholars from the Executive Fellow Programme in Management (EFPM). The graduation ceremony also honoured students who demonstrated exceptional academic performance and leadership. Kritika Garg was awarded the ISB-Parmeshwar Godrej Award, recognising an exemplary woman student from the graduating class with a strong commitment to social causes.

As the ceremony concluded with the traditional hat toss, the graduates celebrated the culmination of a transformative year long journey. The PGP Class of 2026 now joins ISB’s global network of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators shaping industries and institutions across India and the world.

The Indian School of Business was established by visionaries from academia and industry to develop leaders who can navigate complex global business and societal challenges. The School continues to focus combining rigorous research, strong teaching by global faculty across disciplines, and industry relevant curriculum.